The Doukhobor Discovery Centre has had another successful season. Tourist numbers were slightly down but the month of August was the highest ever. Two bus tours cancelled and the operators blamed participants’ cancellations due to the HST. Our world map this year indicated the usual exotic points of tourist origins: farthest north was Franz Joseph Island, near the Russian North Pole, south was another island. Tristan Cunha [St. Helena]. Farthest west was Nuniva Island off the coast of Alaska, east was Ulen, on the coast next to the Chuckchi Sea.

We had over 30 tours including bus tours from Germany and China, Alberta, Spokane and Rotary groups from Australia and Iowa, as well as several school tours.

The Doukhobor Suspension Bridge restoration is now a reality and the plaque we are displaying can now be moved. In the meantime we continue to work on final wording for the 1908 Migration Event of National Importance and Peter V. Verigin, Person of National Historical Significance plaques. Hopefully at least one will be ready for unveiling at our opening in 2011.

Our major field recording and research project concentrating on traditional Doukhobor hymnology and psalms has been completed and has been selling as a CD collection and also an historical DVD video.

This year we initiated and completed the 78 RPM Project, the remastering, digitization and enhancement of Doukhobor 78 recordings made in the forties and fifties. This completes our foray into musicology and this last project is now being added to our website.

We also restructured and repaired our ailing porches but it was beyond our means to repair our sidewalks. We continue to preserve our deteriorating implements and are currently upgrading our implement shed, including a space to house our latest major acquisition, Peter V. Verigin’s carriage, a 1910 McLaughlin Buick. We also completed major sign improvement including an eye catching dove on the roof of the studio building. The Bistro operation is doing well and the community gardens are expanding.

We look forward to continued success in the coming year. New management will bring new challenges and 2011 will be an exciting year for the Centre.